How to sew a beach dress

A simple cover-all is a must for long summer days at the beach. Something you can throw over your bathers for the walk to the kiosk, or when you need a break from the sun’s rays. This easy-to-make shift looks great and can be made to fit almost any shape.

What you will need

Sewing machine;

Iron;

Pins;

Scissors;

Tailor’s chalk or pencil;

3m of cotton or silk voile (from a bolt of fabric at least 1 metre wide);

Matching cotton or silk thread;

Matching bias binding;

2m of thin ribbon or braid (all from fabric stores)

Cut

Measure the distance between your shoulder and knee. Add 5cm. Cut two rectangular pieces of fabric, the width of the bolt of fabric and the length of your shoulder-to-knee measurement. These will form the front and back panels of the shift.

Pin

Lay the two panels, right sides together, on a flat surface. Make a mark at the very centre of one long side. Pin along this long side, leaving a large gap in the centre (this side will form the top seam, so avoid using the selvage). Slip the shift over your head, aligning the central mark you made with the middle of your neck. Facing a mirror, use chalk to mark the ends of your collarbones (closest to your shoulder) and the point of your cleavage on the front panel. Remove shift, unpin and lay the two panels on a flat surface, right side down, with long, unmarked sides facing you.

Create V-neck line

On the back panel, replicate the central mark and the two collarbone marks you made on the edge of the front panel. Measure 5cm down from the central mark on the back panel; mark the spot. Sketch a curving line between the lower centre mark and the two collarbone marks; cut along the line. On front panel, sketch a curving line between the cleavage point and two collarbone marks to form a wide V-shape; cut along this line. Cut two lengths of bias binding to fit the back and front neckline. Open up one side of the binding, align the edge with the back panel neckline, right sides together, and pin in place, easing around the curve. Sew along the fold line of the binding. Fold binding up and over the raw edge to the wrong side of the fabric. Pin and stitch in place, following the line of stitching already made when attaching binding to the other side. Repeat with the front panel neckline, easing binding around the point of the V.

Sew shoulder seams

Pin and press a 1cm hem along the top long sides of each panel. Turn raw edge under to meet the crease (forming a rolled hem) and conceal the raw edge. Pin, press and sew in place, close to the second folded edge. Pair up front and back panels, right sides together and neckline aligned. Pin and sew a 2.5cm seam from neck to each short side. Press seam open and flat.

Measure length and sew side seams

Measure the distance from your shoulder to bust and note the distance. Measure around your bust. Add 10cm to this length, then halve the total, (eg. 90cm bust + 10cm = 100cm/2 = 50cm). Lay shift on a flat surface, right side out, front panel up. Apply shoulder-to-bust measurement to the front of the shift on either side of the neck. Mark with pins. Align adjusted bust measurement with the point of the V-neck (eg. a 50cm adjusted bust measurement will result in 25cm extending left and right of this point), and level with your shoulder-to-bust marks. Mark each end of bust measurement with pins and remove all others. Measure the distance from your bust to mid-thigh. Apply the bust-to-thigh measurement to front of shift, extending straight down from each pin to the bottom edge of the shift; mark with pins. Measure 15cm out from each of these points (towards short edges of shift); mark with pins. To form side seams, draw a curving line between each outer point on bottom edge and the bust mark above it. Pin and sew along each line.

Measure and sew buttonhole

Lay shift on a flat surface, right side out, front panel up. Measure the distance from your bust to waist. Apply bust-to-waist measurement, extending down from the top of each side seam. Mark this point on both the front and back panels, 1.5cm in from the side seam (towards the centre). Sew a vertical button hole at each of the four points. Carefully cut each button hole open.

Measure and sew hemline

For an arching hem that is shorter in the centre and longer at the sides, lay the shift on a flat surface, right sides in, front panel up. Place a mark at the centre of the bottom edge on both the front and back panel. Measure 5cm up from this point; mark the spot. Sketch a gently curving line between this point and the outer tips of the bottom edge; cut along the line. Pin and press a 1cm rolled hem along the bottom edge of each panel.

Finish garment

Pin and press a 1cm rolled hem along the short sides of each panel. Thread the braid through the four button holes. Tie in a loose bow at the front of the shift.

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